networking

Are you taking advantage of in-person networking opportunities to find freelance writing clients?

When I wrapped up a phone call with an agency that hires freelancers writers for Nike, Adidas, Columbia Sportswear, and other Portland-based sports and athletic companies, I got an invite to a meet-and-greet with people from these companies.

The after-hours meeting fit my schedule, so I decided to go and see if networking opportunities like this could help me find more prospects and clients.

If you’re already thinking about your introverted tendencies that tell you to avoid in-person networking opportunities like this, take some advice from Linda Formichelli. Punch fear in the face and do it anyway.

You don’t have to be an extrovert, gifted sales pro or marketer, to benefit from in-person networking opportunities that can connect you with potential prospects and clients.

I’m an introvert. But I still I walked away from this networking meeting with some new contacts, and scored a few referrals from the effort since attending.

And that got me thinking about the many free in-person networking opportunities available for freelance writers.

For some freelance writers, it seems like asking for referrals and selling comes easy. They have a huge network of people they’ve cultivated relationships with. Their network hooks them up with new clients. And it’s easy for the same freelance writers to talk about their business in any situation, and get referrals.

If you’re afraid to ask for referrals, you’ve probably heard that fraidy-cat freelance writer voice inside your head. You know, the one trying to convince you that:

People will think you’re desperate

You’re running some kind of scam

You can’t possibly provide a service valuable enough to help in any meaningful way

That cat needs to go. It took me a long time to figure this out. But when I finally did, I got a response in 10 minutes, a potential project, and scored another referral for more work. Here’s how I did it:

Are you an introvert? A lot of writers are. And I’m one of those shy writers.

You might think it’s a weakness that you’re not the super-social, outspoken type. Or that being an introvert leaves you nothing but low-paying crumbs to collect from mediocre clients. But that’s just not true.

I’m as guilty as the next introverted writer for postponing marketing at all costs to avoid social interaction. But a recent networking event made me realize that it’s time for introverts everywhere to rise up.

You can put your shy nature to work for you to make more contacts and land better clients. Seriously, you can do this.

If you’re an introvert like me, or you just want to get better at marketing, you can. When I learned how to handle marketing as an introvert, my business started to change. I’ve had an influx of people interested in my services. I’ve been able to branch out to new markets. And I’ve been getting more inbound leads. Introverts: Here are four ways to get over your fears, stress less, and land more lucrative projects.

Many freelance writers find themselves in a tough bind. Even the good writers.

No matter how great your writing is, you aren’t making enough money. You write too many words for far too little money. You spend way too much time looking for the wrong gigs. It feels like you’re running in circles, going nowhere.

Here’s a secret I want to let you in on:You’ll land higher paid gigs by providing more than just quality writing. By understanding that the value you’re providing matters, and the solution isn’t necessarily more words.

The solution to getting paid more is to give your clients more of what they want: more traffic, links, leads, and ultimately sales. And you can do that when you apply content marketing strategies to running your freelancing business.

I know, because my first seven blogs never made a dime. But things have changed with my latest blog, The Storyteller Marketer, because I started using three key content marketing strategies to grow my business. Now I command rates 15 to 20 times higher than a lot of other writers.

Not only that, I began to connect with New York Times-bestselling authors, TED speakers, and the who’s who of marketing. All by changing my perspective to think like a content marketer instead of ‘just a writer.’

What changed? Here are the three things I did to help me take my freelancing business to the next level: